Any individual can become healthier by following these steps:
Increasing their level of activity: It is important to keep oneself active. A sedentary lifestyle isn’t healthy. A person can make small changes, such as choosing the staircase over an elevator. It helps to have a regular exercise routine. Adults should exercise for at least 30 minutes, five days a week, or at least 2.5 hours per week. Children should exercise for at least an hour daily. The exercise can be vigorous or of moderate intensity—walking, lifting weights, running, playing sports, or aerobics. The exercise should be vigorous enough to lead to an elevated heart rate and sweating.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet: A person’s diet should contain food from all the major food groups—fruits, vegetable, grains, proteins, and dairy. A balanced diet is one that provides all the essential nutrients—carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. Choose low-fat, low-calorie items from each of the major food groups. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate offer good guidelines. According to the Dietary Guidelines, the recommended daily calorie count for adult women is 1,800 to 2,200 calories, and for adult men, 2,400 to 2,800 calories. Less active people can refer to the lower limit, while more active people should look at the upper limit.
Controlling stress: When people have a lot of stress in their life, they are likely to suffer from conditions such as headache, anger problems, drug abuse, eating disorders, and fatigue. They should address the reasons for the stress. For example, a person who is stressed due to financial reasons should plan and budget to minimize bills. If they have friends that stress them out, they should avoid interacting with them. For stressors that may not be in a person’s control, such as work pressure, they should learn coping techniques, such as deep breathing or visualization.
Quitting unhealthy habits: Unhealthy habits, such as smoking, abusing alcohol, or using drugs go against the principles of a healthy lifestyle. These habits have a negative effect on health. They increase the risk of cancer, decrease mental capacity, and affect mood. If people are unable to quit these habits on their own, they should contact a doctor or addiction specialist to help them come up with a plan to help them quit.
